Summer in Utah Valley is hot and dry, and a crafter can use both. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for the Provo BYU station put the normal July high at 95.2 degrees, with 27 days at 90 or hotter in an average July, and July brings only 0.51 inches of rain, the least of any month. Paint and dye dry fast, outdoor projects rarely get rained out, and flowers are at their peak. The catch is the afternoon, so most of what follows is built for a morning outdoors and a cool afternoon inside.
This page is organized by where the material comes from: flowers you are allowed to cut, rocks you are allowed to keep, heat you can put to work, a machine you can borrow and a studio you can book.
Flowers you are allowed to cut
Wildflowers in the canyons are not craft supply. The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest prohibits removing live plants without authorization, and Utah State University Extension notes that all plants in Utah State Parks are protected. Two farms solve the problem by selling flowers grown to be cut.
Rowley's Red Barn flower garden, Santaquin. At 901 South 300 West, the farm sells a plastic cup for $15 and lets you fill it with as many cut flowers as fit. You buy the cup and borrow clippers at the large white tent on the south side of the barn; on weekdays or earlier in the day, ask inside the barn. When we checked the farm's page in October 2026, the garden was listed as open Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The season moves with the plants, so call (801) 754-5511 before you drive. The paths are dirt and can be muddy.
Utah Flower Market, Pleasant Grove. Every Wednesday from April to mid-October (April 1 to October 14 in 2026), Utah growers sell at Grove Station, 273 South 2000 West. The public shops from 11 a.m. to noon after florists finish at 11. The market says most of its flowers are picked the day before. See our Utah Flower Market guide.
What to make:
- A dried bouquet for winter. Hang small bunches upside down in a dark closet until the stems snap. Some flowers keep their color dried and some fade to brown, so ask the growers which of the week's stems dry well. In winter, when there is no local flower market, the dried bunch is your arrangement.
- A pressed-flower set from one cup. One $15 cup of mixed blooms gives you enough thin petals for a season of cards and bookmarks. Press them flat between paper in a heavy book.
- A sunflower sketch session. In 2026 the Rowley's Sunflower Festival ran August 8 to September 5, weekdays 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., for $10 per person ages 3 and up. The evening hours give softer light for drawing or painting reference photos.
Rocks: where you can keep what you find
Painted rocks are a summer standard, and Utah Valley has rock everywhere. Whether you can take it home depends on who owns the ground. The Utah Geological Survey's collecting-rules page is the clearest summary:
| Where | Can you collect? | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| BLM land | Yes, small amounts | Up to 25 lb a day plus one piece, 250 lb a year; not where posted or on developed recreation sites |
| National forest | Check first | UGS says limited personal collecting is allowed on most forest land; the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache permits page lists rocks as a forest product needing authorization |
| State parks | No | UGS lists state parks among lands where collecting is prohibited |
| Utah Lake shore and bed | No | The lakebed is state sovereign land, which UGS also lists as prohibited |
| Private land | With permission | Ask the owner before you enter |
The Utah Lake row surprises people. The Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands says the bed of Utah Lake below the established boundary settlement lines is sovereign land that it manages, so stones on the lakebed below that line are not yours to take, even where the water has pulled back. For the national forest, the two official pages read differently; until the ranger district tells you otherwise, collect elsewhere. The Utah County district on the forest's permits page is Spanish Fork, (801) 798-3571.
For rock projects without the rules, your own yard and a bag of landscape rock work fine. For a real rockhounding trip, our rockhounding guide covers Topaz Mountain and the BLM sites west of the valley.
- Painted garden markers. Flat stones painted with the names of what you planted. Pair them with seeds from the Provo City Library's free Seed Library (three packets per family, no card needed).
- A rock-and-succulent dish. A shallow pot, gravel, two or three succulents from a garden center and painted stones on top.
Put the heat to work in the morning
On a dry July morning, paint, glue and dye dry quickly. The rule is to start early and finish before the hottest hours. Our kids' craft guide for snow, red-air and heat days has the full hot-day schedule for children; these are the bigger projects.
- A backyard dye day. Tie-dye and dip-dye are messy indoors and easy on a lawn with a hose. Plain white cotton is the base; one Hobby Lobby shopper's review mentions finding a white cotton T-shirt for under $4 for a tie-dye project. Rinse outdoors, wash in a machine, and the dry air does the rest.
- Iron-on shirts for a summer event. Family reunions, a Freedom Festival group or a ward youth trip all want matching shirts. The Provo City Library lends a Cricut Explore 3, which cuts iron-on, glitter paper and vinyl among more than 100 materials, along with a smaller Cricut Joy and Joy Xtra. Checkouts are one week for cardholders in good standing, holds go through the catalog, materials are yours to supply, and late fees are $5 a day. Our Freedom Festival guide has the July events those shirts end up at.
- A first sewing project for a child. The library also lends two small kids' sewing machines on the same one-week terms. A pillowcase or a drawstring bag is a good first summer project. For classes, see our guide to kids' art, music and craft classes.
A studio up the canyon
When the valley floor is hot, Sundance Mountain Resort is a short drive up Provo Canyon and its Art Studio & Gallery runs year-round. The studio lists daily classes for all skill levels in pottery, painting and printmaking, jewelry making, journal making, soap making and perfume, plus kids' classes. It also offers drop-in make-and-take projects, such as a candle in homemade glass or a beaded jewelry piece, with no appointment needed. The studio is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Book classes online at least 48 hours ahead, or call the studio at 801-223-4535 for anything sooner. The resort's glassblowing studio works in the tradition of Tlaquepaque, Guadalajara, and you can watch.
- A make-and-take as part of a canyon day. Pair a morning hike or a lift ride with an afternoon at the studio table. Our guide to Sundance in summer covers the rest of the day.
Saturdays at Pioneer Park, and a booth of your own
The Provo Farmers Market runs Saturdays at Pioneer Park, 500 West Center Street: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from June 6 to September 26 in 2026, then 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October 31. Walk the vendor rows to see what sells locally before you plan a booth of your own. Our Provo Farmers Market guide covers it, and our makers' markets calendar lists the summer boutiques and festival markets across the valley.
- A booth of your own. If the summer's projects pile up, the city festivals' vendor rows are the next step. Our guide to craft booths at Utah Valley festivals covers applications, fees and what organizers allow, and our Art City Days guide explains the Springville mix-up: Art City Days in June is the community celebration, while the separate Springville Art Festival in September is the one with artist vendors.
We could not confirm a pick-your-own lavender field in Utah County with current hours, so this page does not list one.
Related Guides
- Summer Activities in Provo and Utah Valley
- Craft Stores in Utah Valley After JOANN
- Craft Studios and Paint Nights
- Candle, Soap and Resin Studios
- Pottery and Ceramics in Utah Valley
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I pick my own flowers for crafts in Utah County?
Can I collect rocks at Utah Lake to paint?
How many rocks can I take from BLM land in Utah?
Can I collect rocks in the national forest above Provo?
How hot does it get in Provo in summer for outdoor craft days?
Can I borrow a Cricut to make iron-on shirts in Provo?
Does Sundance offer craft classes in summer?
When does the Rowley's sunflower field open?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- Permits (forest products, Christmas tree cutting, plant collection), USDA Forest Service, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Rock, Mineral, and Fossil Collecting Rules, Utah Geological Survey. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Sovereign Lands, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Provo City Library: Seed Library, Provo City Library. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Crafting: creator kits, Cricut machines, kids' sewing machines, Provo City Library. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Collecting Plants on Public Lands for Utah Landscaping, Utah State University Extension. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Farm Flowers (cup u-pick), Rowley's Red Barn. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Sunflower Festival, Rowley's Red Barn. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Utah Flower Market (hours and 2026 season), Utah Flower Market. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Art Studio & Gallery, Sundance Mountain Resort. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Provo Farmers Market home (summer, winter and Christkindlmarkt dates), Provo Farmers Market. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Monthly climate normals 1991-2020, Provo BYU (USC00427064), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Google Places listings (addresses, hours, reviews): Hobby Lobby Orem (Oct. 2026), Google Maps. Checked October 19, 2026.
